While Visions of "Christmas Pretzels" Danced in Their Heads

We made "Christmas Pretzels" today.

You see, I had run out of activities, but realized while we were eating lunch that we had pretzels, chocolate chips that I desperately wanted out of the house, and jimmies. Sis had wanted to make yet another batch of sugar cookies, but I wasn't up to the task. So I suggested chocolate-covered pretzel "candy" with colored sprinkles.

Big hit.

With cookie sheets under them and bowls of rainbow, red and green, and chocolate sprinkles arrayed before them, the kiddos joyfully dipped mini-pretzels in melted chocolate dips, wiped off the excess, and dredged them in jimmies (which we called sprinkles where I grew up. I don't know who this jimmie is but when in Rome . . . ). Sis was meticulous in her chocolate dipping and sprinkle distribution; she also carefully lined up her finished pretzels on the rack. Bud ate his first six pretzels and then began feeding them to me. Eventually, he decided that chocolate-sprinkles-chocolate again was the best technique and, when he'd come to hand me a pretzel, he'd drip chocolate-sprinkle goodness all over the floor. It was he who decided that these weren't pretzel candies but "Christmas pretzels."

Meanwhile, Sis said, "I'm making some for Mommy, for Mama, for Bud, and for all my friends in the life!" I'd say that's the spirit of the Christmas pretzel.

-=-=-=-=-

Chocolate Pretzels

mini pretzels (or whatever pretzel you like; big sticks are pretty but the chocolate ratio isn't always good)
chocolate chips
sprinkles/jimmies

Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave (1 minute; stir; 30 seconds; stir; and the last two steps until almost melted--they will melt when stirred. Don't over microwave.) Dip pretzels in chocolate. Roll in sprinkles. Let dry on rack or aluminum foil. Store in airtight container.

Or just eat them all right then.